Roughing It

Wilderness Camps Let Campers Really Rough It

By: J. Lloyd

If your idea of a great vacation is being pampered, wilderness camping is not for you. Since these camps generally offer a variety of high excitement activities with not much in the way of modern conveniences pampering is not an option. However, during a week or two at a wilderness camp, children can learn important lessons such as survival skills, first aid and wilderness safety. As a plus, kids will also be forced away from the television and video games for a spell so they can connect with nature.One of the first and most obvious aspects of wilderness camping is, of course, the wilderness. These campers do not visit already set up camps with cabins, kitchens and bathroom facilities. Along with leaders experienced in wilderness survival, they set out to make their own adventure and their own camps.Wilderness campers generally carry all of the things they need to live during their camping trip in a backpack on their backs. Their packs will hold their clothing, food and eating utensils as well as tents and bedding. Depending on their activity, they may make and break camp each day, or they may set up one camp site and stay there during their entire camping trip.These campers generally travel to remote places where there is no electricity or plumbing. They must learn to cook all of their food over a fire and also set up a tent and campsite that will be protected from the elements. Campers will be taught how to pick a good campsite and how to pitch a tent properly. They will also be taught fire and cooking safety.During their camping experience campers will also learn the basics of wilderness safety. This will include training in which plants, animals and insects are poisonous and what should be done if someone should become poisoned by a plant or insect. Campers will bring the lessons they learn while wilderness camping back to their everyday lives where they will know how to properly handle emergency situations.In addition to the skills they will learn, most campers will tell you the exciting activities they can participate in during the trip is the focal point of wilderness camping. Wilderness camping will generally focus on an activity that can no be experienced in any other type of camp.These activities can include mountain climbing, white water rafting, glacier hiking or backpacking in the forest or jungle. Wilderness camps are available in locations in both the United States as well as foreign locations, so your child can choose the adventure that is right for them.Participating in a wilderness camp can help children learn the skills they need to survive and help others survive in the case of an emergency. They will also learn the extent of their own inner and physical strength as they participate in the adventure of their lives. Additionally, wilderness camps will also force kids away from video games and television for awhile and help them focus on nature and the world around them.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
Still looking for the perfect summer camp? Try visiting www.aboutcamps.com - a website that specializes in providing camp advice, tips and resources including information on wilderness camp.

RV Info

The Freedom of the Road in a Motor Home.

by Graham Baylis

There are an abundance of websites dedicated to Motor homes and RV’s, (as they are called in America), which goes to show their wide reaching appeal. If you didn’t already know, RV stands for recreational vehicle.Quoted from Wikipedia:“Recreation is the employment of time in a non-profitable way, in many ways also a therapeutic refreshment of ones body or mind”That sounds good doesn’t it??Now at one time, the motor home and perhaps more so the camper van, were greatly associated with hippies and students and were not a common sight. However, these days they are frequently seen on our roads and motorways and seem to be as much a part of our culture as the British Cuppa. The camper van, for example, has become an essential accessory for anyone into surfing. This has lead to a resurgence in its popularity.So just what is so good about motor homes? Well personally, I think the most appealing aspect of owning (or hiring) a motor home or RV has got to be the fact that there is absolutely no agenda but your own. Even that can be changed at any moment. You can take off whenever you have any free time with only a little bit of preparation. A couple of changes of clothes and a few provisions are all you really need. You can pull in at any time for a rest and refreshments. You don’t have to queue for the toilets, or pay through the nose for your lunch, like you would at a service station. If your planned destination is not quite as good as you expected, you can easily remedy that by driving to another one. It is completely up to you just how long you spend in any location. There are many campsites in the UK and Europe, not to mention the many thousands in America, that cater for Motor homes and RV’s so your choice of destinations is vast.Most motor homes and RV’s are equipped with everything you would expect to find as standard such as a shower, cooker, table, chairs, bike racks, awnings etc, plus some of the latest hi-tech equipment such as satellite navigation, TV/DVD, sound systems, climate control, and reversing cameras. Other optional extras are available and there are also many websites dealing solely with accessories for motor homes and RV’s. You really do have the best of both worlds with a motor home as you can benefit from having all your home comforts and yet be surrounded by beautiful countryside.As you can imagine there are many makes and models of motor home to choose from, but to simplify things they do fall into the two groups:-1. The American RV (which is also the original)2. The European Motor Home.They may look similar on the outside but that is where their similarity ends. The differences are indeed numerous, but perhaps the most obvious one is that the American RV is much bigger in size than the European version. Their construction is also different with the American RV being built with aluminium construction fibre glass sidewall, whereas the European version has a wood construction. Possibly the reason for the American RV being more heavy duty in general is because some people live in their RV’s all year round.Prices do vary depending on which make and model you go for. So, like any other big purchase, it is worth while doing a thorough investigation of what’s on offer before you make your final decision. So think of this as the starting line on your long and wonderful journey with your motor home.

Graham Baylis works with many companies writing articles on all types of subjects, all of which are viewed from his one particular standpoint. This one about the freedom given to those who purchase an RV is dedicated to www.travelworldrv.co.uk.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Family Camping Trips

Family Camping: How To Have Better Family Camping Trips

By: Karin Manning
Copyright 2006 Karin Manning

If you can put up with being asked “Are we there yet?” precisely 57 times on the way, you can be assured that you and your children can have the experience of a lifetime camping together.A family camping trip with kids is a lot of work but also a lot of fun and the more prepared you are the better time you and your kids will have.Here are 20 quick and easy ways to entertain children every minute while on a family camping vacation.1. Hold a selection of secret treasures in a surprise box. Add one or two new ones every day for added enjoyment.2. Take your video camera. If you don’t have on then think about hiring one.3. Teach your children about bush survival and safety around the camp site. Encourage help with meal preparation but always supervise them around the fire as it is a very dangerous place.4. Always bring a bug jar.5. Bring along some toy zoo animals and let your children create their own zoo in the wild.6. Bring some glow in the dark necklaces and torches. Bring along glow sticks for night lights. If your children are scared of the dark then tie a glow stick from the top of your tent.7. Bring a constellation chart and try and find different stars at night.8. Bring along scrabble, memory games and a deck of cards.9. Create a scavenger hunt.10. Have a nature hike giving each child a list of items to collect.11. Have a flashlight dance in the spotlight.12. Allocate one soft small bag per child to put their favourite items in like colouring books, pencils, reading books, etc.13. Have a special children’s tape handy in the car for just that moment when the car (heaven forbid) breaks down, your tyre goes flat, or you get stuck in a traffic jam.14. Let your children be involved in the planning and if they see places they’d like to go to or explore think of their needs as well. The more well-rounded your trip is the more fun every member of your family will have as a whole. Remember, this is a time for family togetherness so as long as you are together that’s the main thing.15. Bring along a pack of pipe cleaners which amuse kids for hours. They can turn them into numbers, letters, animals, bugs etc. They’re only limited by their imagination.16. Let each child create a little camp diary where they can do drawings, write stories, stick in pictures, glue in pieces of nature, etc.17. Get your children involved by collecting water, grating cheese, setting the picnic blanket, collecting firewood, washing the vegetables, etc. You can even create a little competition and split chores into groups and keep a tally for your whole trip.18. Bring along a couple of flashlights for some after dark exploring. Remember at night there is a whole different world of wildlife out there.19. Keep teenagers happy by letting them bring Game Boys, walkmans, their favourite books and magazines, etc. Teenagers are renowned for wanting to spend time alone so let them. They’ll usually come out when they’ve had enough of their own company and if they’ve done something they wanted to do there’s less chance that they’ll whinge (hopefully).20. Allow each member of the family to choose a meal and help fix it.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

SPECIAL OFFER: You may have heard of Karin Manning. She’s the author of The Complete Guide to Happy Family Camping Vacations. She really wants you to have better camping trips. That’s why she created her own library of free camping books including 101 Top Camping Tips For Beginners, Cheap Camping Tips For The Budget Camper, The 2006 Guide To Dutch Oven Cooking, Smokin Hot Chili Recipes For Campers On The Run and much, much more. Download your copies now at www.free-camping-books.com before she decides to start charging.

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Cooking Out

We thought you might like some outdoor cooking hints with the Memorial Day Weekend almost here. Fire up those grills and get outdoors!
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Everything You Need To Cook Outdoors

By: Nicole Munoz

Cooking outdoors is often a favorite highlight of many camping trips. Whether you enjoy grilling burgers and hotdogs or getting creative over an open fire, camp cooking can be a fun experience for everyone. Take a few minutes to prepare a simple menu for your camping trip ahead of time and use your camp meal plans to help pack your kitchen items as well as your ingredients. Every camping trip will require a different assortment of camp kitchen supplies depending on the event’s activities and the menu you plan. If you plan to do a lot of camping or are already an avid camper, there are a number of cooking supplies you should keep on hand for your camping outings.A suitably sized quality cooler with a secure clasp, like those offered by Coleman, is a camping necessity. Cooler chests with a removable food tray are ideal for keeping meats and sandwich spreads cool until you are ready to use them. For extended camping trips, consider using block ice in your cooler rather than crushed or cubes and freeze meats like steak, hamburger, chicken, or pork for longer freshness.You will also need an assortment of cooking surfaces to accommodate various types of meal preparations. If you plan to cook over a campfire, you will need a grill grate or a camp grill. Many campgrounds offer guests a small charcoal grill at each camp site, but you will want to keep an extra portable grill on hand for stays at locations without an on-site grill. You may opt for a portable propane grill instead of charcoal. For a more versatile outdoor cooking experience, you will want a good, quality camp stove. Coleman is one of the leading manufacturers of camp stoves and they offer a wide range of sizes and accessories. You will want at least a single burner camp stove, but you may want to consider a two burner stove for more usability. A griddle surface is a nice addition to your camp stove for easy breakfast preparation and more.You will need camping cookware and cooking utensils as well. Pots and pans designed for outdoor cooking, like the Coleman Family Cook Set, can be used on the camp stove or on the camp grill over the fire. A heavy dutch oven is also nice for stews, pasta, and meats. Keep an assortment of spatulas, knives, and cooking spoons with your camping supplies and consider a coffee percolator for cool evenings beside the campfire. Purchase a dish pan, dish cloths, and a small bottle of dish soap just for your camping trips. Keep a couple of thick oven mitts and potholders with your outdoor cooking supplies, along with aluminum foil, salt, pepper, and other seasonings, and a few heavy duty scrubbing pads. Camping enamelware is great for dining on or you can use paper plates and cups with plastic silverware. You will also want to keep garbage bags, lighter fluid, and matches stored in a sealed, waterproof container handy for your camping outing as well as items like napkins and paper towels. A camp fork or skewer is great for roasting hotdogs and marshmallows and you may need a few plastic containers or freezer bags for food storage. Don’t forget to keep your camping recipes with your outdoor cooking supplies to make shopping and meal planning easier.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
For more tips and information about outdoor cooking , check out www.summitcampinggear.com.

Camping for Beginners

30 Top Camping Tips For Beginners

By: Karin Manning

Copyright 2006 Karin Manning

Seasoned novices and beginners alike all over the world every weekend enjoy the simplicity of camping.The idea of camping to some of you conjures up images that may make you cringe, especially those of you who have never camped as a child or have heard horror stories from friends and relatives, and have unfairly decided never to give it a fair go.How much effort you put into adequately planning your camping trip will determine how successful (and enjoyable) your trip will be. Though some of these tasks may seem tedious and tiresome, the more often you put these tasks into practice the more fun you will have doing them.Here are 30 Things You Must Know Before You Go On Your First Camping Trip:1. Gather all your camping equipment in a corner of a room and keep adding to it as you think of it.2. Use basket shelves in your car for easy storage.3. Store your clothes in sports bags.4. Make sure all heavy items are secure and are packed at the bottom of your car boot with lighter items on top.5. Take one prepared meal in a freezer meal that can be easily reheated on arrival at your destination.6. Make sure you have everything you need for a drink stop like tea bags, instant coffee, sugar, condensed milk, cordial, powder, biscuits, a two litre bottle of water, matches, kettle, wet wipes and tea cloth7. If you are going away for a short trip prepare your hot dishes so that you have more time to relax at your camp site and enjoy yourself.8. Stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables at every chance.9. List everything you will eat on the number of days you are away.10. Keep extras always on hand which includes flowers for cakes and breads, noodles, rice, beans and lentils.11. Remember long life milk (two to three cartons of long life milk per day should be sufficient for a family of two children and two adults as a guide).12. Try camping in your backyard to see how you feel about your tent and sleeping bags etc.13. Your first camping gear does not have to be expensive. It is more important that it is durable and keeps you protected from all weather conditions. Bring a piece of ground cloth with you, a piece of plastic that goes under your tent. Tuck the edges neatly underneath the tent. The first thing you must consider when choosing the tent is the size ie the number of people your tent is going to house.14. Take cutlery with you that is old and definitely won’t be missed if it doesn’t come home with you.15. Keep cutlery separate from crockery by placing them in plastic containers with lids or in a tea towel in a plastic bag.16. Here is a list of items of cutlery and crockery that may be useful for your next camping trip. A fork, knife, teaspoon and dessert spoon should be enough for each person.
17. Have a serrated edge knife that can also be used as a bread knife.18. Vegetable peeler and knife.19. Metal egg lifter.20. A large aluminum coffee pot, the larger the better.21. Barbeque tongs.22. Egg rings.23. A small meat mallet.24. A sharp knife and sharpener.25. Can opener.26. Large serving spoon and wooden spoon.27. Make sure you have an enamel cup, bowl and plate for every person.28. Use an enamel plate next to the fire to warm food.29. Use an enamel plate as a base for food in your camp oven.30. Bring paper plates in case you are in an area where water is scarce, and be sure to take your rubbish with you.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com




http://www.BackToNatureCamping.com

Try a Camping Vacation

Do you want to take a family vacation but money is tight? Why not take a camping vacation? Not only is camping great fun in and of itself, but it can be a more economical way to get the family away this summer.

A nice trip into the woods or to the lake is a great way to escape the pressures of life and take a break. Don’t worry about boredom setting in. There are numerous ways to entertain ourselves in nature. Hiking, trekking, climbing or rock rappelling are just the beginning. Kids and adults can all have a great time swimming, fishing and boating at a nice lake or river. Add some adventure to your trip with whitewater rafting, kayaking, mountain biking or parasailing. Gathering the family around a cozy campfire is a great way to end the day and can help bring you all closer.

While camping itself can be a great family break, you can also include it as part of a bigger, but more economical vacation. There are countless numbers of campgrounds across the country with many located near vacation hot spots. For those who like a seaside vacation, many camps are often situated near coastal beaches. You can find encampments near cave sites, ski resorts and spas. Of course, campgrounds are also to be found near amusement parks and shopping hubs. By choosing to camp as a part of your vacation you can save big bucks on lodging. You can save even more money by avoiding pricy restaurants and doing some camp cooking as well. An added bonus for those vacationing with children is the freedom to “let the kids go a little” rather than having to keep them quiet in a lavish hotel.

Camping vacations are an excellent alternative to higher priced trips. You can go ahead and plan a great get away on a tight budget by choosing to camp rather than using lodging accommodations. Whether you plan your entire retreat around camping, or simply include it as part of a bigger trip, camping can be a positive experience for your family’s vacation.

http://www.backtonaturecamping.cm

State & Federal resources

In an effort to help you plan your next camping excursion, we are currently in the process of adding a resource links page for state and federal parks and campgrounds. Check our website frequently as we are always in the process of updating and bringing you new and relevant information. Get away from life and back to nature! www.BackToNatureCamping.com

The first holiday of the outdoor season is fast approaching. No doubt many of us are planning a long weekend getaway for the Memorial Day holiday. As this marks the opening of the summer outdoor recreation activities, the lakes and campgrounds are sure to be full. Take some time now to check out reservation requirements, camping fees, hook-up facilities or any permits that might be required at your destination site. Start stocking up on camp supplies, food and first aid gear now so that you are not left with last minutes packing when you are ready to head out. Don't forget to stop by our store for all the latest and greatest camping gear! -www.BackToNatureCamping.com - Happy Camping!

A Friendly Reminder

With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, don't forget to renew your fishing license. A few dollars spent on your permit and licenses could save you big bucks in fines!

Give your fishing tackle and gear the once over also. Make sure your reels are working and you have plenty of lures and bait. Do you need to replace your line and hooks? A little advance preparation can prevent frustration or lost fish when you get to your favorite fishin' hole.

Stop by our store to replenish your fishing supplies at http://www.backtonaturecamping.com/Associate_OMatic/Associate-O-Matic_v3.0.5_LITE/shop.php

Ever wonder why??

How is it that one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? ~Author Unknown

School is Almost Out!

With another school year almost over and summer just around the bend, it is a great time to plan a camping trip. Celebrate the freedom that summer brings and free yourself from the daily grind of life with a camping retreat! Get Away From Life and Back To Nature!

http://www.BackToNatureCamping.com

Hmmmmmm

"There are two types of fisherman - those who fish for sport and those whofish for fish". ~Author Unknown

The Nurture of Nature

Life got you down? Let Mother Nature nurture your spirit. Something about being outdoors, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of nature refreshes one’s soul. Perhaps it is the simple exercise we get from hiking and trekking that revives us. After all exercise is known to be a great stress reliever. Maybe it is the escape from our daily routines or the break from all the telephone calls, computers and traffic that refreshes us. Whatever the sources, one thing is certain, getting back to nature is good for one’s heart.

A week-long camping expedition, a weekend retreat into the woods, or a simple hike down a nature trail can all be great outdoor escapes from the stress of life. Whether your are fishing, hunting or playing in the water or if you are photographing birds or wildflowers, simply being outdoors can give us a much needed diversion from our demanding and nerve-wracking daily habits. Benefits can include a lightened attitude, clearer thinking and overall better health.

So why not take a break and let nature nurture you. Get away from life and back to nature!

Look for more tips, articles and great gear at www.BackToNatureCamping.com

Camping in the Springtime

Spring has Sprung! If you have a case of Spring Fever or Cabin Fever, dust off the camping gear & head outdoors! There is no better way to revitalize yourself than enjoying Mother Nature in the springtime.
From the fresh leaves on the trees and the early wildflowers to the newborn offspring of the wildlife, the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors are good for the mind and the soul. So grab your tent, pack up the family and head Back To Nature. Check out all our articles for great tips to make your adventure more enjoyable. Don't forget to stop by our store for any gear and supplies you might need!

Thought For the Day

Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl. ~ErnestHemingway

Did You Know?...

A duck's quack does not echo, and nobody knows why.

Apples, not caffeine, are more effective at waking you up in the morning.

Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are at least 50 years old!

The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma.

Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.